GL Strategy

[minke19104]

After getting the Great Library, what is the best way to go?

Should I sit and relax, turning research completely off to accumulate massive amount of money, or continue going for techs that the AI do not research?

Say If England has monarchy, but noone lese has polytheism. Should I "donate" Polytheism to other civs to sort of bump them up to let them buy Monarchy from England. Thus, granting me free Monarchy faster.

I'm just curious on how ppl use their GL. Do you keep the GL as a backup for free techs while keeping research high to get the good ones faster, or you solely depend on GL for techs while building, REXing, or massively building Army to crush oppositions.

Also is it a good Idea to end GL use early if your close to Education, so you can build them Universities and hopefully JS Bach and switch to Democracy earlier than anyone else?

Any inputs are welcome...

[Bluefrog]

Like everything else in Civ, it really depends on what you want to accomplish. If I’ve got a tech lead already, I normally don’t even bother to build the GL. There are just so many other things those shields could be used for. If I’m behind in tech pretty seriously, I’ll put all my effort to get the GL, and catapult myself back in the game.

I’m not sure I’m with you on the idea of donating techs when you have the GL. It goes against the grain, IMO, of the Wonder. It just doesn’t feel right, I guess.

More often than not, I’ll cut science to zero, and build up a massive treasury. You’re able to do this because, unless there is one runaway civ, you will never get more than a tech or two behind anyone. This gold can be used to upgrade troops, buy infrastructure, or to buy resources/luxuries, all of which will allow your empire to outpace the other guys. This also allows you to build libraries later…as long as you get them built before Education, you’ll be fine (unlees you want the cultural win). In fact, unless you’re going cultural, you don’t want to build your libraries until you are closing in on Education, because those libraries won’t do anything but drain your treasury on upkeep costs. The main downfall of this strat is the slow tech pace, but with some civs (read: Vikings), you don’t want the tech pace to be very quick in the medieval period, because that will limit the usefullness of your UU.

[Bluefrog]

Begone, double-post daemon!

[Brizey]

I think the GL is best for horseman to knight UU civs. I play the Chinese a lot, and I always go for the GL. On a typical standard map monarchy or emperor game, I typically have about 20 to 25 horseman to upgrade. At 80 gold a pop, the GL is essential. I recently had a monarch game where I had 40 horseman to upgrade. I beelined for invention and pre-built Leo's. By bee-line, I mean that I researched Invention after I got Engineering from the GL. Right around the time I got Leo's built, I got Chivalry from the GL. Perfect. 40 Riders baby!

[Dominae]

I might research a government (Monarchy or Republic) if I'm not out of Despotism by the time I get the Great Library. Other than that, I always set Science to zero and focus on other things.


Dominae

[DaveMcW]

I trade away every tech I get from the GL, and give it free if they have nothing to offer. The last thing you want is a single AI civ beelining for Education at 100% science because everyone is paying them for techs.

I use 0% science for most of the GL's lifespan, switching to Invention at 100% or Printing Press with 1 scientist when they become available.

[BRC]

Dave makes a good point. In my latest game, I have been allowing the weaker AI's to keep pace in the tech race by selling them my techs for whatever they have. This keeps them from being able to research much, as whatever money they do have is headed my way, and it prevents the bigger AI's from becoming stronger by selling their techs away to these weaker civs. I know that it goes against common logic, but it is extremely effective, even with Ancient Age techs.

[Brizey]

BRC and Dave:

I recently discovered this technique as well. It helps to keep one AI civ from getting too far ahead as well.

[Theseus]

Nathan (nbarclay) is particularly good at GLib strategy.

Giving away techs is awesome... non-intuitive yes, but a great way to manage relationships and the course of geo-politics.

My principal principle ( ) is that I hate just using it to be the tech laggard and save up gold... there are better and more sophisticated ways to use it.

[Brizey]

Theseus:

You got to admit though, that the knight UU civs seriously benefit from the gold you can save. 1600 gold=20 instant riders! Sophisticated or not, it is effective.

[anarres]

DaveMcW:

Why set a 40-turn research on Printing Press? It is one the AI never goes for, and will always be worth having first. If you get it before education either go for Invention or set to 0% and wait.

Ultimately, unless you *really* need cavalry quickly, why not get PP and be ready to go 100% Banking/Democracy?

[The Pioneer]

The key lies into denying it to the AI.

So long...

[DaveMcW]

annares: Unless I'm playing Deity I still get it first after 40 turns.

[epics]

How do you know that a tech is worth of discovering it your self not buing from AI? Are there any tech costs shown in the game?

[metalhead]

I guess I'm somewhat of a benevolent GL owner. I always bring the lesser civs into the Middle Ages for little or no cost, and will usually sell every tech I get from it to most, if not all, civs. Actually, I do this with practically every tech I research come to think of it.

I will keep science at 0 in order to stockpile some gold, which really comes in handy if you're going to mass upgrade, or for those crappy times when Education is discovered before Invention (God, I hate that!!!!) One time, I got all the way up to Metallurgy with the GL, and it seemed that all of the AI's were at war at the time, so if you want to extend the GL benefit as much as possible, it's not a bad idea to encourage a little warfare.

Once I get Theology, I go for Printing Press at the maximum research I can while still turning a profit. That tech coupled with the stockpiled gold can often times net me Banking, Astronomy, and whatever the first bottom branch tech is that I didn't get for free. I have been told before that you can take 40 turns to get Printing Press every time and still get it first, but I have been in games where an AI civ gets it 15-20 turns after Theology is discovered. Granted, these are usually the hyper-tech games where the leading AI civs seem to turn up with new techs eery 5-6 turns, but you can miss out on it if you don't go all-out for it.